Hi Everyone

This week's little missive from us to you has a somewhat more sober start than usual.  Regular readers of these messages will be aware of the news about the After Dark and their landlord's intentions to demolish the venue and build an apartment block in its place.  Whilst on the bright side, the Rising Sun would no longer cop the flak for people walking home loudly from the After Dark anymore, all of us at the Rising Sun really believe that we provide something different for people of this town and that the After Dark does what it can to do the same.  

Not only is there an issue with additional flats and overcrowding in what's already a busy part of town but Reading has so few venues and nightspots with a real independent character and the After Dark has been part of that nightlife fabric for decades. To lose it to a residential block would be a travesty, and would deny Reading residents this uniquely friendly, atmospheric and iconic venue. Its loss would be Reading's loss and yet another part of its character and identity would be stripped away.

If you feel the same, we'd like to ask you to do your bit for inter-venue relations and do a couple of things if you haven't done so already, first of all lodge an objection with Reading Council. Please tick the box to make your comments public and also keep them civil

http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/comment.asp?AltRef=161935

There's also a petition at ...

http://www.change.org/p/reading-borough-council-save-the-after-dark-club

And now we have that out of the way (come on Gary, Dunkirk Spirit laddie!   Dry those eyes....) here's what lies in store at the Rising Sun this weekend  

On Friday, it's time for STAND UP CINEMA

Screenings of the best locally made film and video plus rarely seen classics, obscure documentaries, cult independents and overlooked modern gems. Stand-Up Cinema is a collaboration between The Rising Sun Arts Centre and Real Time Video. To get your film shown at a future Stand-Up Cinema contact Real Time at info@real-time.org.uk

This month's main feature is  THE WIND WILL CARRY US  (Abbas Kiarostami, 1999)

Part of Black History Month and in homage to deceased auteur, Abbas Kiarostami.

This film is a poetic interpretation of issues such as life and death, the modern and traditional,and the local and global.  The two worlds do not confront each other, however, nor do seem to connect.

Hailed by many on its release as a masterpiece; the film further cemented Kiarostami's position as one of art-house circles' favorite directors of recent years.

This is being shown as part of the Reading Year of Culture ‘Literary’ theme for October.

It'll cost you a paltry £5 on the door or £10 for a year's membership.  Short Films start at 7.30. The Wind Will Carry Us starts showing at 8.00 pm. 

On Saturday, the SCARLET VIXENS return with TRICK OR TREAT

The Scarlet Vixens are back!!!  They're bringing a bonkers bonanza of a show, and since we're almost at our favourite time of the year (Halloween... woooooh!)  they've returned to spoil you with some terrifying tricks and tantalising treats to get you into the spooky spirit!  Expect the usual from a Scarlet Vixens show - this time, with a tale of two halves...

There's a bumper line up of bedazzling beauties for you on this very special show!

Your host - MISS KITTY PIMMS

Performing some tricks and treats for you all:

LAYLA CHERRY
LORETTA LEBONKE
LADY LISETTE RUBY
MOJO JONES
MARIPOSA BOP
MISS OOPSIE OOOHH
MISS SUGAR RUSH
LADY INTREPID

We'll be open at 8pm for an 8.30 start, and it'll cost you £10 on the door

That’s everything for another week, just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST (If you pop it into your satnav or Google, we shall magically appear!)